There’s been some confusion in Co Clare after a video has been circulating that appears to depict a lion roaming the woods over Mount Shannon.
Gardaí confirmed to several outlets that they have received reports of a large animal in the wooded area, but as it stands, it’s not clear what kind of animal it is.
The video was captured by a driver working with forest manager John O’Reilly in the area, who reported the sighting to his local Garda station in Kells, Co Meath.
Gardaí have said that they’ve received no reports of a lion on the loose in Co. Meath, after footage circulated on social media claiming to show just that.
The footage is believed to have been recorded somewhere in the Kells area, in Co. Meath. pic.twitter.com/KEmvFv6PTP
— Boyne News (@BoyneNews) October 30, 2025
John explained that the driver spotted the animal in the early hours of the morning on October 29 in Mount Shannon, and while they weren’t sure what kind of animal it was, the video was very real.
He told the Irish Independent: ‘One of our truck drivers took the video, it was sent to the forester in charge, and he then sent it to me. And I felt that because we were aware of it that we would report it to the guards.
‘The video originated through us but what type of animal it is remains a mystery. What we can be sure of is that some kind of animal crossed the road and went in to the woods. In my opinion it is a lion, but you never know.’
Meath forest manager reports sightings of ‘animal that looks like a lion’ roaming in Co Clare woodland Pic: John Reilly/X
John added that some other people who were cutting timber had also reported similar sightings and they had thought they were ‘losing their marbles’ which he admitted he’d think the same if he’d seen it himself.
So is it a large dog or is it a lion? We might have to wait and see with this one…